Murder on Kaanapali Beach

by R. Barri Flowers

  MURDER ON KAANAPALI BEACH

  A Leila Kahana Mystery

  By R. Barri Flowers

  MURDER ON KAANAPALI BEACH: A Leila Kahana Mystery is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  MURDER ON KAANAPALI BEACH

  A Leila Kahana Mystery

  Copyright 2015 by R. Barri Flowers

  All rights reserved.

  Aloha, to everyone who loves the Hawaiian Islands and appreciates the endless, breathtaking beauty.

  And to fans of my Hawaii fiction who inspire me to continue writing in the spirit of Aloha. Mahalo!

  * * *

  CRIME AND THRILLER NOVELS BY R. BARRI FLOWERS

  Dark Streets of Whitechapel

  Dead in Pukalani

  Dead in the Rose City

  Fractured Trust

  Justice Served

  Killer Connection

  Killer Evidence Legal Thriller 4-Book Bundle

  Killer in The Woods

  Murder in Honolulu

  Murder in Hawaii Mysteries

  Murder in Maui

  Murdered in the Man Cave

  Persuasive Evidence

  Private Eye Bestselling Mysteries 2-Book Bundle

  Seduced To Kill in Kauai

  Serial Killer Thrillers 5-Book Bundle

  State's Evidence

  * * *

  PRAISE FOR R. BARRI FLOWERS

  "Flowers delivers the goods. An exotic setting, winning characters, and realistic procedural details make MURDER IN MAUI a sure hit with crime-fiction readers." — Bill Crider, Edgar winner and author

  "MURDER IN MAUI is a steamy, non-stop thrill-ride through the seamy underbelly of Hawaii." — Allison Leotta, Federal Sex Crimes Prosecutor and author

  "Vivid details of police procedure one would expect from top criminologist. A gripping novel in what promises to be an outstanding series." — Douglas Preston, New York Times bestselling author on MURDER IN MAUI

  "Gripping, tightly woven tale you won't want to put down. The author neatly contrasts the natural beauty of tropical paradise with the ugliness of murder and its aftermath." — John Lutz, Edgar winner and bestselling author on MURDER IN MAUI

  "MURDER IN HONOLULU is an exquisitely rich and masterfully constructed mystery. R. Barri Flowers now lays fitting claim to the beautiful island paradise as his territory.... A savvy, smooth, and sumptuous read that's as hot as Waikiki beach sand." — Jon Land, bestselling author

  "Infidelity and murder in paradise lead to a one of a kind case for PI Skye McKenzie Delaney, and an enjoyable ride for the reader. Definitely put this one on your list." — John Lutz, Edgar winner and bestselling author on MURDER IN HONOLULU

  "Flowers once again has written a page-turner legal thriller that begins with a bang and rapidly moves along to its final page. He has filled the novel with believable characters and situations." — Midwest Book Review on STATE'S EVIDENCE

  "A clever mystery with many suspects.... Vividly written, this book holds the reader's attention and speeds along." — Romantic Times on JUSTICE SERVED

  "A model of crime fiction.... Flowers may be a new voice in modern mystery writing, but he is already one of its best voices." — Statesman Journal on JUSTICE SERVED

  "An excellent look at the jurisprudence system....will appeal to fans of John Grisham and Linda Fairstein." — Harriet Klausner on PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE

  STATE'S EVIDENCE will make the top sellers list because it's fast-paced, intriguing, satisfying, and I highly recommend it to you." — Romance Reader At Heart

  "A rocket of a read. Not only a heart-thumping thriller, this is that rare novel that is downright scary." — John Lutz, Edgar winner and bestselling author on BEFORE HE KILLS AGAIN

  "It gets no better than this! R. Barri Flowers has written another thriller guaranteed to hold onto its readers!" — Huntress Reviews on DARK STREETS OF WHITECHAPEL

  "Selected as one of Suspense Magazine's Best Books." — John Raab, CEO/Publisher on THE SEX SLAVE MURDERS

  * * *

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Murder of the Hula Dancers—bonus excerpt

  Kaanapali Beach Paradise—bonus Maui novelette

  Dead in Pukalani—bonus excerpt

  Murder in Honolulu—bonus excerpt

  About the Author

  * * *

  PROLOGUE

  On Tuesday, Joyce Yashiro was up bright and early for her usual morning run on the beach before going to work. In addition to staying fit, it was also her best time to think. There was actually a lot on her mind these days, much of it troubling. Clearly, some serious changes needed to be made in her life. Or had she already made too many changes, angering more than one person in the world she had not so carefully constructed?

  After putting her medium length black hair into a ponytail, Joyce did her pre-run warmups, stretching her long limber legs and then her arms this way and that before deciding she was ready to head out. She walked through the house that she had once shared with her husband and son until things fell apart, and spotted her dog Seiji in the Great Room. He was resting comfortably in his favorite spot by the sectional, right under the ceiling fan.

  She had a mind to wake him, but since he was recovering from a tummy ache, she thought the rest would do him good in spite of the fact that the Staffordshire terrier mix she'd had since he was a puppy loved to run with her.

  Not this time, she told herself wisely, certain they would have plenty of other opportunities to run together.

  She grabbed her keys and left the house. It was warm and muggy on this February morning; nothing at all like the frigid winters she had spent in New York before returning to her native Hawaii and settling down on Maui.

  Joyce headed down the hill of the golf course in the Kaanapali Beach resort area, and then across the grass en route to the beach. It was quiet aside from the slight swoosh of palm trees that were sprinkled around the property. She spotted a few other runners who were, like her, out and about before the locals and tourists got up.

  Taking her usual path between hotels lining the strip, Joyce made her way to the soft, sandy beach. It was still dark, but her eyes had adjusted so she had no trouble seeing where she was going. Honestly, she wished Seiji had been up to the run, as his company was pretty much all that kept her going these days as far as companionship. When it came to love and romance, she had flopped big time. But it wasn't from lack of trying on her part.

  Then there was her son. Where had she gone wrong with him? How could his father's influence and irresponsible ways have been stronger than what she could offer him?

  Joyce was now in a groove, moving in even stride
s across the sand. Her legs felt weary and her breathing was slightly labored. She looked forward to a nice soothing shower when she got home. And maybe Seiji would feel well enough to eat something.

  So focused on her thoughts, Joyce never even heard the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching her.

  Until it was too late.

  She was suddenly pushed down hard onto the sand. She tried to move, but someone was on top of her holding her down. She couldn't tell if it was a man or woman, but assumed by the weighty feel that it was a man.

  Her mouth and nose were pushed into the sand. She couldn't breathe and was choking on the sand.

  Who was doing this and why? A few suspects crossed her mind. But would any of them go this far? For what, to teach her a lesson?

  Okay, she got the message. Now it was time to let her go.

  But whoever was doing this to her did not seem to want to leave it at that. As she struggled to free herself, Joyce gasped for air, but found none. Her chest felt tight and her lungs burned. She tried coughing, but only got a mouthful of sand with her face held down flush against the beach.

  She suddenly felt some type of wire being placed around her neck. Then it tightened, slicing into her neck and constricting her air and the flow of blood to her head.

  The person intended to kill her right there on a public beach! But since it was early in the morning, perhaps there would be no witnesses.

  She fought hard to breathe, clawing at the sand with her hands, while her legs were pinned down to the point of being virtually unmovable.

  As the wire around her neck grew tighter and tighter, her will to fight and breathe faded as unconsciousness started to seep in. Any dreams she had were about to die with her, and there was nothing she could do about it but pray that her life would be better on the other side. And that her killer would be brought to justice in what was no longer paradise, but a nightmare that she would never wake from.

  Joyce saw flashes of light in her head, and then total darkness ensued, as if to let her know time had run out.

  * * *

  He tightened the zip line around her neck as hard as he could until he was certain she was dead, wanting to take no chances that she could somehow survive this. The last thing he needed was to lose the element of surprise and have her ready for him the next time. She didn't deserve to live and he was left with no other choice than to make sure she had breathed her last breath.

  He felt her neck go limp and her head jerk to the right involuntarily, while her face remained buried in the sand. Her body, now lifeless beneath him, became pliable and he wondered if some of the bones might actually break from his weight. Lifting up, he left the zip line embedded around her neck and removed the gloves he wore, stuffing them into his pocket.

  He thought he heard someone coming and had to get the hell out of there—fast! He couldn't afford to be spotted, screwing up everything. Gazing in both directions through the darkness, he tried to determine which way the sound had come from. But he saw no one.

  Hedging his bet, he ran off in one direction, content in the knowledge that dead people didn't talk. This one certainly wouldn't. That meant he was in the clear. Or he would be, once the dust settled.

  * * *

  Evan Locklear was vacationing on Maui with his wife, Sara. It was a much deserved break from both their hectic work schedules. If the truth be told, she had insisted they come, indicating that they needed some time away to work on their marriage. He had to admit that there had been some strain with them hardly able to spend any time with each other these days. As a result, the spark had all but disappeared from their love life. But he still loved her and didn't want to lose her.

  So he agreed to put things aside at work and try to be the man she had married. At least for a couple of weeks. So far, everything seemed to be clicking. But how long would it last?

  Evan's thoughts subsided as he left their beachfront hotel room and went for a run just before five in the morning. That wasn't Sara's thing, so he didn't bother to wake her up. The day had yet to break, but he could still make out the ocean, which seemed relatively calm today. He felt a slight breeze as he took to the beach.

  Out of nowhere, a figure seemed to emerge from the darkness, nearly running into Evan. He only got a brief look at the man who whisked past him without so much as uttering a word.

  "Asshole," muttered Evan, as he continued to jog. He was about to return to his thoughts when he tripped over something and fell down.

  Getting back to his feet, he brushed the sand off his clothes and peered at the object. His heart skipped a beat when he realized it was a person laying there face down and not moving.

  His first instinct was to roll the person around, which he did. It was a female. He felt for a pulse. There was none. He tried again. Same result. It left him with a sinking feeling.

  Even if he hadn't been a doctor, he would have known she was dead. He called 911, but knew there was nothing they could do for her.

  Evan looked in the direction of the man who had nearly run into him. He had apparently murdered this poor woman and was now trying to get away.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Detective Sergeant Leila Kahana had been roused from her sleep by word of an apparent homicide on one of Maui's most popular beaches. It was hardly the way she wanted to begin her day working for the Maui County Police Department. Unfortunately, the crime of murder came with the territory. A Native Hawaiian, she was in her eighth year on the force as an investigator and composite sketch artist, and her fourth year with the Homicide Unit. Being a cop was in her blood. Her grandfather, Ekewaka Kahana, was once the County of Maui police chief and her father, Katsumi Kahana, had been in Internal Affairs. Family heritage aside, at thirty-three, Leila believed she was her own woman with a desire to take on criminality and the bad guys who would dare tarnish paradise and all it stood for in past generations.

  She arrived at the crime scene just after six a.m. It was in Kaanapali on the west side of Maui. What had once been land consisting of taro, green sugar cane, and a fresh water spring, had now become a master-planned resort community that featured luxurious homes, world-class ocean front hotels, and posh condominiums along a three-mile stretch of palm trees and pristine white sand. Indeed, Kaanapali Beach had once been given the distinction of being called America's Best Beach.

  Leila's brown shoulder length hair with blonde highlights was pulled back into a ponytail. She was comfortable in her own skin at five-foot-four inches tall with a slender build. She flashed her identification at a uniformed officer in an area that had been cordoned off by yellow police tape. She could see the body of a female lying on the sand in what appeared to be jogging attire. Leila tried to imagine what her last moments were like. Or was that even possible?

  Just before she could reach her, Leila was cut off by her partner of six months, Detective Jonny Chung.

  "Sorry to disturb your beauty rest, but duty called," he told her.

  "Maybe you should feel sorry for her," Leila said, glancing at the victim. "I can catch up on my sleep later."

  He grinned. "Good point."

  Her brown eyes gazed at him. Chinese-American, the former vice cop had tried to hit on her more than once before and after they partnered up. Though he wasn't bad looking and a good fit for her height-wise at just a few inches taller, after her recent involvement with her ex-partner and now boss had ended badly, she was not about to go down that road again.

  "So what do we have?" she asked.

  "Caucasian female, mid to late thirties," Chung said routinely. "There was no ID on the body, but she did have a house key in her pocket. Based on the zip line left around her neck, I'd say she was strangled—like the others..."

  Leila grimaced. Over the past year, three women had been strangled to death by a serial killer dubbed by the press as the "Zip Line Killer" because he used this weapon to kill each of the victims, leaving it behind as his calling card. The first two murders occurred in Spreckelsville, a small beach community
on the island's North Shore. Marcia Miyashiro, was the first victim. The thirty-six-year-old clothing store clerk was strangled inside her apartment. Four months later, Amy Lynn Laseter, a twenty-one-year-old tourist, was missing for three weeks before her remains were found amidst some shrubbery. Then two months ago in Makena, an area in South Maui, the body of twenty-nine-year-old designer Ruth Keomaka was found in the park. In each case, the victim had been clothed and there was no sexual assault.

  Leila wondered if that would hold up for what appeared to be the latest victim. She first noticed the sand caked on one side of her face and mouth, as if the victim had been face down during the assault. Based on her attire of a matching sports bra and shorts with sneakers, it was obvious that she had been on the beach running when she was attacked.

  It was only when Leila focused more intently on the victim's face that she took a step back in horror.

  "What?" Chung asked, glancing at her. "This isn't the first time you've seen a dead body, is it?"

  She ignored the question, given that he surely knew it wasn't the case. "I know the victim—"

  He cocked a brow. "Really? Who is she?"

  "Her name is Joyce Yashiro. She teaches at the College of Maui."

  "You took her class?"

  "I saw her last year at a seminar," she said. "I can't believe someone killed her. For what reason?"

  "To get his kicks," Chung suggested. "It's all about opportunity and satisfying some sick urge to kill while thinking he can keep getting away with it."

  Leila knew all too well how serial killers thought. Or at least what they weren't thinking about, which was the police would never rest till they were brought to justice and punished accordingly for their crimes.